Neutrons for science

In 1967, France and Germany decided to cooperate together for the construction and implementation of a nuclear reactor devoted to research works in physics, chemistry and biology. The Laue-Langevin Institute project was born with the mission of supplying to researchers an intense neutron beam source for the analysis of condensed matter. Great Britain rapidly joined the project, progressively followed by other European countries and making up the Laue-Langevin Institute a successful example of European cooperation. This success demonstrates that such a gathering of forces and competences allow to carry out ambitious projects with the best neutron source in the world. This book tells us the genesis of this project and shows how a suitable organization has permitted to optimize the reactor use. It describes also the portrait of three personalities that have played a key role in this success: J. Horowitz, H. Maier-Leibnitz and L. Neel. (J.S.)